tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432323264902617108.post7144936242861364738..comments2024-03-29T08:14:43.839+00:00Comments on Public Transport Experience: Weekend News Itemsfatbusblokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06833340546527596517noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432323264902617108.post-81704675398918882612019-02-11T10:13:39.624+00:002019-02-11T10:13:39.624+00:00Asking the public is all very well, but has predic...Asking the public is all very well, but has predictable results.<br /><br />"Would you like to cut bus services and thereby isolate villages?" - NO! and even car drivers respond thus.<br /><br />A year or so later....<br /><br />"Would you like to pay a little more for car parking to maintain the service and continue to help subsidise local buses?" NO! <br /><br />I've been closely involved in both consultations (albeit with rather more detailed questioning than my headline summary) for my employer and I'm pleased to say that our Councillors have decided to keep the buses running with only "good house-keeping" reductions while implementing most of the car parking increase plan. <br /><br />But we can't be far off the point where we have to ask people to choose between two unpopular outcomes; whatever FBB might like to claim the simply money isn't there under the current system. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432323264902617108.post-74593867634269039402019-02-10T14:31:22.260+00:002019-02-10T14:31:22.260+00:00The crucial difference with Switzerland is that th...The crucial difference with Switzerland is that there is a national consensus (only questioned by the far right) that quality public transport is a high priority and is funded to match. Referendums (what could possibly go wrong?) don't really come into it as a rule, though they do have some influence on the policies of urban operators (e.g. Zurich has sometimes put the purchase of new trams to referendum). The Swiss tend not to elect governments that regard public spending as robbery, and Austerity as a virtue-or think that halving the cash that local authorities have to spend on all services, not just buses, as an acceptable way to run a modern state. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432323264902617108.post-53552888614423562922019-02-10T11:42:57.221+00:002019-02-10T11:42:57.221+00:00Curious to see Tipton St.John gain an 's' ...Curious to see Tipton St.John gain an 's' on the former Sidmouth Junction sign...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432323264902617108.post-14567262088136121162019-02-10T08:49:12.108+00:002019-02-10T08:49:12.108+00:00If I take your point correctly? Should a public vo...If I take your point correctly? Should a public vote goes against spending on bus services we will know to blame those who voted against it?<br /><br />Surely spending on road schemes would win almost every time? If not by public vote it will happen in the council chamber. Its happened here with funding for an expansion of P & R (set out in the new local plan) transferred to the ten most needed highway improvements. Job done! <br /><br />Clive Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02059026405966912480noreply@blogger.com